Firefox 4.0 Beta2 released

[yowanvista]

Firefox 4.0 Beta 2: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html

Mozilla Firefox 4 Beta Release Notes



Changelog:

Tabs are now on top by default on Windows and OSX - Linux will be changing when the theme has been modified to support the change.
You can turn any tab into an "App Tab" by right-clicking on it and selecting "Make into App Tab" from the context menu.
Web developers can animate content using CSS Transitions.
Responsiveness and scrolling improvements from the new retained layers layout system.
JavaScript speed improvements due to engine optimizations.
Changes to how XPCOM components are registered in order to help startup time and process separation.
See the complete changelist from the previous beta.

As well as these features from previous Firefox 4 Betas:

You can search for and switch to already open tabs in the Smart Location Bar
New Addons Manager and extension management API (UI will be changed before final release)
Significant API improvements are available for JS-ctypes, a foreign function interface for extensions.
The stop and reload buttons have been merged into a single button on Windows, Mac and Linux.
The Bookmarks Toolbar has been replaced with a Bookmarks Button by default (you can switch it back if you'd like).
Crash protection for Windows, Linux, and Mac when there is a crash in the Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime or Microsoft Silverlight plugins.
CSS Transitions are partially supported.
Full WebGL support is included but disabled by default at this time.
Core Animation rendering model for plugins on Mac OS X. Plugins which also support this rendering model can now draw faster and more efficiently.
Native support for the HD HTML5 WebM video format.
An experimental Direct2D rendering backend is available on Windows, turned off by default.
Web developers can use Websockets for a low complexity, low latency, bidirectional communications API.
Web developers can update the URL field without reloading the page using HTML History APIs.
More responsive page rendering using lazy frame construction.
Link history lookup is done asynchronously to provide better responsiveness during pageload.
CSS :visited selectors have been changed to block websites from being able to check a user's browsing history.
New HTML5 parser.
Support for more HTML5 form controls.

 

[24c]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

 

[Dinesh]

Updated. Thanks.

 

[EchoX860]

I don't see it on the official site.

 

[Dinesh]

I don't see it on the official site.

Why would it be on the official site? Its a beta version. Click on the link given by the thread starter. It takes you to the official mozilla site.

 

[Airbot]

Here's another link for you.

Firefox web browser | Help us test the latest beta

 

[EchoX860]

Firefox web browser | Help us test the latest beta

That's the site I was talking about, I went there and it was still Beta 1, now it says Beta 2. Thansk.

 

[MWRed]

Got it, still not really a FF user anymore, although it's my backup/alternate. I hope it's better.

 

[kpo6969]

I don't see it on the official site.

Meet Firefox 4.0 - Beta 2 Released - Neowin Forums - Page 83

 

[Wii Master 64]

They seriously improved Direct2D in this build. It looks much better.

 

[Lordbob75]

Downloaded, and installing!

~Lordbob

 

[Lordbob75]

What does the App Tab really do though?

~Lordbob

 

[win7clutz]

Well this is screwed... Installed Beta2 in a new dir and it still wiped out all my current FF bookmarks. And of course it didn't create a restore point during the install, although that doesn't matter much as System Restore has never work properly in Win 7...

Looking for my last backup....

 

[DirtRider]

I think I will wait :huh:

 

[glennc]

Hello,
Not exactly germane, but I have been using it on a slow XP Pro system and it is noticeably quicker. Not lightening fast but definitely quicker loads and response IMHO.
Won't try it on W7 as any program change on W7 gives me agita (anxiety).
glennc

 

[Lordbob75]

I have noticed more and more how slow it is starting up, but its not a big deal.

~Lordbob

 

[Dinesh]

The beta keeps crashing when there are more than 10-12 tabs open.
The stable version runs fine even after having 20 tabs open at a time.
However, I m really in love with the new google chrome canary build.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

Had the first beta Minefield installed in XP Mode, now trying the beta 2 in Windows 7 the default areo glass theme is pretty cool I can still see the time with only 1 tab open. Also it has a lot cleaner look.

 

[cloud8521]

apptab is a tab that is shrunk, always visible even if you have 1000 tabs. its shrunk so it does not take up space and is always there. its mainly for sites you visit alot

 

[Lordbob75]

apptab is a tab that is shrunk, always visible even if you have 1000 tabs. its shrunk so it does not take up space and is always there. its mainly for sites you visit alot

Thanks Cloud. I sort of figured, but I was hoping for better functionality. What about with, say GMail?

~Lordbob